10.5061/DRYAD.B7N6H
Lam, Weng Ngai
National University of Singapore
Lim, Robyn J.Y.
Wong, Shi Hong
National University of Singapore
Tan, Hugh Tiang Wah
National University of Singapore
Lim, Robyn Jing Ying
National University of Singapore
Data from: Predatory dipteran larva contributes to nutrient sequestration
in a carnivorous pitcher plant
Dryad
dataset
2018
Nepenthes ampullaria
Nutritional mutualism
Mycetophilidae
cross-habitat predation
Xenoplatyura beaveri
Tripteroides tenax
phytotelma
2018-02-12T18:09:44Z
2018-02-12T18:09:44Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2017.0716
1378 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
The fluids of Nepenthes pitcher plants are habitats to many specialised
animals known as inquilines, which facilitate the conversion of prey
protein into pitcher-absorbable nitrogen forms such as ammonium.
Xenoplatyura beaveri (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) is a predatory dipteran
inquiline that inhabits the pitchers of N. ampullaria. Larvae of X.
beaveri construct sticky webs over the fluid surface of N. ampullaria to
ensnare emerging adult dipteran inquilines. However, the interaction
between X. beaveri and its host has never been examined before, as it is
not known if X. beaveri can contribute to nutrient sequestration in N.
ampullaria. X. beaveri individuals were reared in artificial pitchers in
the laboratory on a diet of emergent Tripteroides tenax mosquitoes, and
the ammonium concentration of the pitcher fluids were measured over time.
Fluid ammonium concentration in tubes containing X. beaveri were
significantly greater than those of the controls. Furthermore, fluid
ammonium concentrations increased greatly after X. beaveri larvae
metamorphosed, although the cause for this increase could not be
identified. Our results show that a terrestrial, inquiline predator can
contribute significantly to nutrient sequestration in the phytotelma it
inhabits, and suggest that this interaction has a net mutualistic outcome
for both species.
Raw data of in vitro experimentsArtificial pitchers (Vials) are setup with
two treatment conditions (Treatment = X. beaveri or control) in the
laboratory. Each artificial pitcher is supplied with varying numbers of T.
tenax pupae over time (moz). Amount of ammonium (NH4 mmol) in artificial
pitchers is determined at 3-week intervals over the course of the
experiment, until X. beaveri emerge (Emergence; 1=yes, 0=no). Vials
belonging to the same Pair number were commenced on the same day, and
supplied with the same number of mosquito pupae over the course of the
experiment.Xeno data.csv
Singapore